Improvement in clamps



Clamp.

' W. L. W ALKER & B. G. DEVU E.

' Patented 0ct.H,1B75.

M ETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. WALKER AND BENJAMIN G, DEVOE, OF KENTON, IOWA.

PATENT OFFICE,

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,593, dated October11, 1875; application filed January 8, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat we, WILLIAM L. WALKER and BENJAMIN G. DEVOE, of Kenton,in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented certainImprovements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification:

Our invention relates to improvements in a clamping device for attachingthe cross-rails of fences to the uprights or posts or joining sectionsof cross-rails together.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofour improved clamp, particularly adapted for clamping or joiningtogether the posts and crossrails of fences. Figs. 2 and 3 are top andunder side views of the lower portion of the clamp, and Figs. 4 and 5are similar views of the upper portion of the same.

A is the lower portion, formed T-shaped, and is provided with a shank,a, having a longitudinal slot, a formed therein'for the insertion of thepost. The horizontal part a of the lower portion A is provided on itsupper face with projecting studs a which fit into holes formed for theirreception in the rail O.- B is the upper portion, having a horizontalplate, I), and a vertical plate,.b. The vertical plate b of the upperportion B has an oblong-aperture, 11 formed therein, the upper cornersof which are rounded so as to fit well and neatly over the shank a ofthe lower portion A. This aperture, of course, may be of any convenientform, according to the purposes for which the clamping devicemay beadopted. All around the aperture b a flange, b is formed, havingrecesses b b formed therein for the reception of the post when insertedinto the shank a, so as to prevent any lateral movement of the post. On

the inner face of the vertical plate I) of the upper portion B, and atthe angle of junction of said plate b with the plate 12, a groove, b isformed for the reception of the rear edge of the cross-rail G, as shownby Fig. 1.

The adaptation of the clamp to a fence, as here represented, is asfollows: The upper portion B is slipped over the shank of the.

lower portion A, the post Orupright is then inserted into the slot a ofthe shank a, when the upper portion B is slipped back sufficiently toallow of the studs 60 being inserted in the holes formed for theirreception in the cross-rail O, and when so inserted the crossrail 0 willrest on the lower portion A. The

upper part B is then slipped over the rail, the

front face of the post pushed into the groove or recess b in the flangeb and a key or wedge inserted in the space between the post and the rearface of the slota, when the post and cross-rail may be securely clampedtogether and the cross-rail held on said post at any desired height,obviating thereby the use of bolts and similar fastenings.

The device is simple in construction and easy of adaptation, and may bemade of wrought or cast iron and of any ornamental configuration, andwhen used for clamping together heavy pieces, such as are used inbuilding the upper and lower portions, may be provided with suitablestrengthening-ribs.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

